The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) is looking for a new identity — and is asking for proposals from design firms or freelancers that want to create it.

The national design association has put out an RFP for a new identity system and brand platform "to help strengthen the Society's strategic planning process, produce an overall increase of awareness and contribute to a more easily managed program to better reflect the Society's personality and values."

The catch is, the GDC is asking that firms do the work on a pro-bono basis ("reasonable" expenses will be reimbursed). In return, the winning firm will be recognized as a GDC partner for a minimum of two years, according to RFP guidelines.
To be considered for the project, the GDC wants to know about the candidate's working relationship with clients (namely why it's successful), and is asking for samples of corporate identity work from the past three years.

The deadline for the RFP submission is Oct. 28. The RFP states at least one senior member of the project design team must be a CGD certified member of the GDC. Designers with other designations (R.G.D., SDGQ, AIGA) are allowed, but they must partner with a CGD-certified designer.

"As this is the identity for the GDC, we are restricting the project to GDC members only, much like we do with our annual report," noted Matt Warburton, GDC's national vice president of communications.

The GDC's goal is to present the new identity to GDC's national council in April 2013, with the approved work to be completed and presented at the national annual general meeting in 2014.

The current GDC logo has been in place since 1968, noted the organization.